Real Madrid right-back Lucas Vazquez is expected to miss Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Manchester City as the Spanish club’s defensive injury crisis worsens.
Vazquez underwent assessments on Sunday which revealed a hamstring injury in his left leg and Madrid have indicated he could be sidelined for three weeks.
The 33-year-old played 81 minutes during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid but experienced discomfort as he travelled home and was subsequently sent for tests.
A Madrid statement read: “Following tests carried out today on our player Lucas Vazquez by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg. He will not be included in the squad for the match in Manchester.”
Vazquez has been filling in at right-back this season after Dani Carvajal suffered a long-term knee injury in October, and formed part of a makeshift backline against Atletico following a string of defensive injuries.
Madrid are already without a fit senior centre-back following recent injuries to Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, while fellow centre-back Eder Militao has been sidelined since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in November.
Aurelien Tchouameni, a defensive midfielder by trade, partnered academy graduate Raul Asencio, 21, who only made his Madrid debut in November, at centre-back against Atletico. Fellow academy defenders Joan Martinez and Jacobo Ramon are also out with injury, accelerating Asencio’s ascent into the first team this season.
Central midfielder Federico Valverde has featured at right back on occasions this season and could deputise there in Vazquez’s absence against City.
Vazquez has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season, providing two goals and five assists.
Madrid face City at the Etihad on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off, before the second leg at the Bernabeu on February 19.
GO DEEPER
Madrid don’t have a fit senior centre-back. How will they line up against Atletico and City?
(Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
